Government Best Practices Training Course:

NOTE: On-line registrations for this workshop are now closed. Space is available for walk in registrants. To register the day of the conference, please bring your payment and the attached registration form.

Registration: 8:00 AM (Day One Only)

Program Starts: 8:30 AM

Wrap-up: 4:30 PM

Course materials, continental breakfast (coffee and pastries), refreshments included.

About This Course

In 1982, the GAO released its first edition of Principles of Federal Appropriations Law.  It was a collection of the body of law governing the expenditure of federal funds.  In 1991, the current four set volume was released.

Today, agency program managers, general counsel, contracts administrators and financial officers are all faced with significant challenges in meeting organization needs within current budgets.  What are the rules?  How are they applied in practice?  What are the typical mistakes made that result in wasted or lost funds?  How can an agency protect its budget?   How can an agency manager maximize their allocation?

The rules governing federal appropriations are complex, extensive and fill four binders.   This course, taught by leading experts in government contract law, will provide the student with an overview of the rules, how they are applied, and most importantly, how to maximize funds with budget limits AND within the rules.

Learn precisely how the Federal government’s budget and spending system works – and how to avoid impasses at each phase in the process, from initial planning through ultimate disbursement.

• Initial planning phase
• Budgeting
• Congressional role
• Limitations on spending
• Antideficiency questions
• Contract funding
• Personal liability
• Statutory compliance

And more…

Under the Current administration and Congress, financial pressures are mounting – and will continue to mount for the foreseeable future. Those of you who handle Federal funds and have to find ways to do more with less need to know how to maneuver on the Federal financial highway.

The subtle rules on the availability of appropriations can absolutely block an otherwise well-reasoned management plan. The difficulty is that these rules are not well known, not well publicized, and not easy to understand. Fortunately, though, there exist clear precedents that you can follow to avoid reaching such impasses – and avoid incurring personal financial liability for failure to comply.

This course will take you through every facet of the budgeting and spending processes. You’ll get a thorough analysis of all funding activities, as seen through the eyes of the contracting, certifying, and disbursing officers. And you’ll participate in sessions that explore controlling decisions by the General Accounting Office.

We invite you to join us for three days of educational adventure.

A Market*Access "Certificate of Completion" will be provided to all attendees upon conclusion of the workshop.

Course Syllabus

A. Legal Framework

1. Constitutional basis
2. Historical review
3. Basic definitions

B. Life Cycle of an Appropriation

1. Budget formulation
2. Congressional process
3. Enactment of funding gap
4. Apportionment and allotment
5. Close of fiscal year
6. Audit and review

C. Interpreting Appropriation Language

1. Line item vs. lump sum appropriations
2. Effect of budget estimates
3. Reprogramming and transfer
4. Permanent legislation in an appropriation
5. Interrelationship of authorization and appropriation
6. Application of legislative history

D. Availability of Appropriations as to Purpose

1. Necessary expense rule
2. Specific purpose limitations

• Entertainment and recreation
• Insurance
• Personal expenses and furnishings
• State and local taxes

E. Availability of Appropriations as to Time

• Bona fide needs rule
• Materials contracts
• Service contracts
  

1. Replacement contracts rule
2. Contract modifications
3. Year-end disposition of appropriation balances
4. Elimination of “M” accounts

F. Availability of Appropriations as to Amount

1. Earmarking language
2. Antideficiency Act
3. Augmentation of appropriations

G. Obligation of Appropriations

1. Recording Statute
2. Contingent liabilities
3. Deobligation

H. Continuing Resolutions

Who Should Attend

• Agency Program Managers
• Budget and Financial Officers
• General Counsel
• Budget Analysts
• Comptrollers
• Contracts Administrators
• Procurement Executives
• Federal support contractors
• Federal product and services suppliers, systems integrators
  

Early Registrants Include:

• Acquisition Solutions, Inc., Senior Acquisition Analyst
• Department of Veterans Affairs, Budget Analyst
• DS ST PROS, Senior Resource Manager
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Budget Analyst
• National Science Foundation, Administrative Manager
• U.S. Coast Guard, Deputy Comptroller
• U.S. Department of Education, Budget Analyst